Looking Forward

TUESDAY

MCCD to host ladies’ night out

The McHenry County Conservation District hosts a ladies' night out from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake.

The evening's festivities will include a campfire and an optional night hike. The group will learn about phases of the moon, hear some folk lore, and enjoy herbal tea while waiting for the moon to rise. Participants should bring a lawn chair.

WEDNESDAY

NBA free agents to sign with teams

The Bulls look certain to lose shooting guard Ben Gordon to the Detroit Pistons when the free agent signing period begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. But will they be able to bring any new players into the fold? The luxury tax will come into play, but the Bulls could sign someone to help them fill the void, all the while trying to clear cap space for the talent-laden free agent class of 2010.

THURSDAY

Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest celebrates barbecue

Lake in the Hills’ annual tribute to ribs will take place Thursday through Sunday at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road. In addition to multiple barbecue vendors, the festival will feature musical performances by Starship, Catfight, Libido Funk Circus and others.

Admission is $5 each day for the event, sponsored by the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club. For information, visit www.rockinrotaryribfest.com.

Lifelock.com 400 comes to Chicagoland Speedway

NASCAR and Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart will make their annual stop in the Chicago area is this week at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series' Lifelock.com 400 race will be Thursday night, with practice Friday night and the race beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Nationwide Series race, the Dollar General 300 Powered By Coca Cola, will begin at 7 p.m. Friday.

St. Alexius to offer info on sleep woes

St. Alexius Medical Center will present “Sleep Problems in Children: Why Won’t My Child Sleep Through the Night?” on Thursday in Hoffman Estates.

Sleep problems are some of the most common problems that parents face with their children from infancy to adolescence. Learn from Dr. Bruce Bedingfield what is normal, what isn’t, and what you can do about it.

The presentation begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. It will take place in the St. Michael’s Conference Center on 4 West in Rooms C and D at St. Alexius Medical Center, 1555 Barrington Road in Hoffman Estates.

There is no charge to attend the programs; however, advance registration is suggested.
For information or to register, call 866-253-9426.

FRIDAY

Amateur golfers vie for county championship

The McHenry County Amateur Golf Tournament begins Friday. The two-day event at Pinecrest Golf and Country Club in Huntley will divide golfers into flights based on skill level, with the top-ranked golfers competing for the county's amateur title. This week, look online at NWHerald.com for video preview of the course, and check on Thursday for a listing of tee times.

Fiesta Days begins in McHenry

Fiesta Days begins this weekend with the Music Fest portion of the annual event. The festival includes carnival rides, paintball tournaments, a motorcycle show, food and more at Petersen Park, 4300 Petersen Park Road, McHenry. Musical entertainment includes Modern Day Romeos on Friday, Gin Blossoms on Saturday, and The Ides of March on Sunday.

Tickets are $4 Friday, $8 Saturday and $5 Sunday; free for children 12 and younger. Other Fiesta Days activities, including an ice cream social and Family Fait Nite, will continue through July 25. For information, call 815-385-4300 or visit www.mchenrychamber.com.

‘Brüno’ hits theaters nationwide

Sacha Baron Cohen is back, but not as Borat. For his new mockumentary comedy film, Baron Cohen is portraying Bruno, a gay Austrian fashion journalist. Like the British comedian’s other famous characters Ali G and Borat, Bruno originally was created for Baron Cohen’s TV series “Da Ali G Show.”

In “Brüno,” Baron Cohen disrupts fashion events, tries to reinvent himself as an American celebrity, and meets with former presidential candidate Ron Paul. The film, directed by Larry Charles (“Borat,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is rated R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language.

Jonas Brothers come to Allstate Arena

Tween heartthrobs the Jonas Brothers will perform 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. The power pop band is touring on its new album “Lines, Vines and Trying Times.” Kevin, Nick and Joe will be joined by opener Jordin Sparks.

Tickets for the show are $29.50-$89.50 at 312-559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

“The Jungle Book” takes Huntley stage

Huntley High School will present "The Jungle Book" Friday through Sunday to raise funds for its speech and theater programs.

The show is District 158's fourth annual summer theater camp for students in grades five through 12. More than 60 students are involved in this year's production.

Showtimes include 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and children ages 12 and under. They can be purchased online at www.district158.org/pac or by calling 847-659-6535.

SUNDAY

Heritage Fair features family entertainment

“Meet Me at the Fair!” is this year’s theme at the 25th annual Heritage Fair.

The fair, which is free, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the McHenry County Historical Society, 6422 Main St. in Union.

The historical society will host a cake walk for children of all ages, as well as feature a vintage quilts display. Marilyn Price’s “Wonderful Whirl of Puppets,” the Clef Hangers Barbershop Quartet, and comedian Freddy Fredricks also will grace the stage.

For a full schedule, call the society at 815-923-2267 or visit www.mchsonline.org.